Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna left Tuesday’s game against the Royals in the third inning with left hip tightness, according to the team.
Acuna was limping while tracking down a fly ball from the Royals’ Bubba Starling in the second inning. Billy Hamilton pinch hit for Acuna in the third.
The Braves announced the move as precautionary. Acuna is considered day to day. Manager Brian Snitker said after the 9-6 loss that the team is essentially in wait-and-see mode as to Acuna’s status Wednesday.
“Specifically in this moment, it doesn’t hurt,” Acuna said via team interpreter Franco Garcia. “But obviously when I start running or moving, I feel a little discomfort. With these things you need to be cautious because the important thing is your health moving forward.”
The Braves, already without first baseman Freddie Freeman, who didn’t travel to Kansas City due to a bone spur in his right elbow, have four games remaining in the regular season.
If Acuna did rest during Wednesday’s finale in Kansas City, he’d have two consecutive days off with Thursday’s idle date before the team begins its final series in New York.
Acuna said he’d like to play Wednesday - he alerted the Braves to his hip issue yet still campaigned to stay in for another at-bat Tuesday - but those decisions aren’t his to make.
“I’ve felt it before but I’m a warrior and I’m going to keep playing through these things,” Acuna said. “That’s just the way that I am. I was dealing with it and pushing through it. Eventually it just got to the point where it became intolerable and I mentioned something to the trainers.”
The early exit and possible rest also endangers Acuna’s pursuit of 40-40. He’s hit 41 homers but sits at 37 stolen bases with the four games to play.
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